Seven Principles for Highly Effective Form Interpretation - Principle 1; It Must Work
By Scot Combs
HISTORY
Martial Arts were designed to work in the dynamic, high stress environment of self-defense. Forms were designed to give the martial arts practitioner both physical and mental tools with which to practice functional self-defense techniques.
Many American soldiers studied the martial arts of Okinawa, Japan, China and Korea after WWII. They had no way of knowing they weren’t being taught the complete art. Martial secrets were protected jealously from outsiders; more so by a defeated and subjugated people in Japan and Okinawa. American GIs were taught a children’s form of martial arts and allowed to think it was the complete art.
There was little or no instruction in form interpretation; grappling, throwing or pressure point techniques were simply ignored. Soldiers were taught that forms were block, punch and kick exercises. When trying to interpret classical forms in this way, one becomes aware they are a terrible way to learn free fighting; there are much more efficient ways to box with or without kicking. To put it bluntly form interpretations that utilize a free fighting paradigm are useless in real world self defense.
Free fighting is used at longer distances and can be devastating from there. The fighting found in classical forms is up close and personal. Classical forms display grappling, seizing, striking and kicking techniques designed for close quarters combat.
It has been said that classical forms contain all one needs to know about self defense and yet, until recent times, we were given only the most rudimentary tools with which to interpret or ‘read’ them. If classical forms contain all one need know about self defense it makes sense that the forms must contain techniques necessary for effective self defense. The forms must contain striking, grappling, throwing and pressure point techniques. All of these are necessary for a complete self defense system.
In this article we will explore 7 principles of form interpretation. All they are meant to do is offer a way of thinking about classical forms that can help unlock the code that has kept good martial artists in the dark for far too long.
PRINCIPLE 1: It Must Work
Any technique offered as an interpretation must work … period. Any technique that demonstrably does not work must be abandoned for something that does work. Many of us know a lot of techniques that don’t work, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing; knowing what doesn’t work is valuable information. It is vital to your safety to know when a technique is not working so you know immediate change is required.
There are many factors involved in making a technique effective; awareness, vision, experience, timing, height, reach, strength, flexibility, conditioning, creativity and the technique itself. It is important to remember that a given technique may not work for you against one type of attacker but may function extremely well against another type. Or you may not be able to apply the technique effectively, but your training partner can. This is common and perfectly OK. All this means is you have to continue your search for a technique that fits your form. What could be more fun than finding a technique you can use effectively?
If a technique doesn’t work…you may not have practiced sufficiently, you may be applying the technique improperly or you may have applied good technique in the wrong circumstance. Talk with your instructors and other practitioners for their insights. Practicing with multiple partners can reveal the weaknesses and strengths of a technique.
By simply requiring your techniques to be effective helps you create a personal martial art that can be relied on when the time comes to protect yourself or your loved ones.
Remember, it is helpful, for interpretation purposes, to assume that you must engage your attacker in order to secure your safety or that of another; your bunkai should put you in a superior mechanical, energetic and psychological position and not just move you out of the way. If you can ensure your safety or that of another by clearing the danger zone; that is what you should do. Never engage in combat unless there is no other way to safety.
Next time, Principle 2; There are No Wasted Moves